History Main / TheEmpire

* In ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'' "Empire" is the game term for any polity capable of spaceflight and in control of at least one planet, but they need not necessarily fit this trope, depending on government type and AI personality. The Despotic Empire and Star Empire governments and the "Hegemonic Imperialists" personality are closest. Of course, a player can choose a democratic government and still conquer the galaxy by military force.
** With the ''Nemesis'' expansion, the most powerful or respected empire can try to become the [[EmergencyAuthority Galactic Custodian]] in order to unite the galaxy in the face of an all-threatening crisis (although this is far from the only possible reason). If, however, the newly-made Custodian decides that this measure is not enough or is simply tempted by the greatness that is only a step away, they can proclaim the creation of the First Galactic Imperium - [[ExaggeratedTrope an empire the size of the entire galaxy, with the possessions of yesterday's Custodian as its center]].

** With the ''Nemesis'' expansion, the most powerful or respected empire can try to become a [[EmergencyAuthority Galactic Custodian]] in order to unite the galaxy in the face of an all-threatening crisis (although this is far from the only possible reason). If, however, the newly-made Custodian decides that this measure is not enough or is simply tempted by the greatness that is only a step away, they can proclaim the creation of the First Galactic Imperium - [[ExaggeratedTrope an empire the size of the entire galaxy, with the possessions of yesterday's Custodian as its center]].

** [[ANaziByAnyOtherName The Principality of Zeon]] in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam''. Despite the misnomer (the head of state's official title was Sovereign), it practised all the human rights abuses and genocidal tendencies seen in any given "Evil Empire". The twist, however, is that they manage to be both this ''and'' LaResistance, [[PlayingTheVictimCard playing the victim card]] throughout and making it seem like they were ''forced'' to declare war on the [[TheFederation Earth Federation]] to gain their independence; in fact, the One Year War is known as the Zeon War for Independence on their side. And if that wasn't bad enough ([[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized since when does one invade other countries to declare secession]]), the truth of the matter is Side 3 was already an independent republic under the previous founder Zeon Zum Daikun, the same man that the Zabis (specifically the patriarch Degwin) assassinated to subvert the Republic of Zeon into a totalitarian absolute monarchy. Overall, the Principality of Zeon is definitely the "evil empire" of the Gundam universe, in spite of having legions of diehard fans that would say otherwise.

** CONSENT from ''Film/GSaviour''. They're pretty much what happens if you combine the Earth Federation with the Principality of Zeon.

** [[spoiler: Marley, the militaristic nation that serves as the GreaterScopeVillain of the series. After overthrowing the Eldian empire, they established power by rounding up the Eldians left outside the Walls, placing them into [[FantasticGhetto Internment Camps]] and completely removing '''all''' rights from them. Propaganda teaches that the Eldians are "children of the devil", and must be kept under strict control to protect the world -- and Marley is a "merciful" nation for permitting them to live inside their camps (as military assets). The nation heavily resembles Nazi Germany, with its abuse of a minority population and militaristic ambitions on the world. It wages wars on its neighbors in order to expand the empire, using the Titans to conquer neighboring countries and make them colonial territories. And when advancing technology meant a greater need for fossil fuels, the government announced that [[BlatantLies King Fritz had declared war on them]] and threatened to [[NuclearOption destroy the world]] with his army of Wall Titans. This provided justification to recruit ChildSoldiers from the ghettos and offer them "Honorary Marleyan" status in exchange for their military service, in order to launch an invasion and extermination campaign against the Walls]].
* ''Manga/OnePiece'' has the [[TheGovernment World Government]]. This is what they actually are, a corrupt and brutal oligarchy determined to exert control over the world and its past. And while there is an empty throne in its capital that symbolizes the fact that no one person rules the world, [[spoiler:this is also a big fat lie. The "empty" throne has an owner: Im, the true ruler of the world.]]

Suffice it to say that the TropeNamer is [[UsefulNotes/TheRomanEmpire the Imperium Romanum]]. Other than that, Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease. Most RealLife historical empires have fallen under the HegemonicEmpire class; infamously cruel empires tend not to last very long in the real world.

* In the military science fiction novel ''Literature/{{Victoria}}'', the United States itself plays this role,at least in the eyes of the protagonist and his [[TheFundamentalist Christian Marines]], [[DisasterDemocracy not that they're much better]].

** In ''TabletopGame/GURPSBanestorm'', the role is taken by Megalos. Some of its citizens are decent people, and it's not ''explicitly'' committed to evil, but it's literally corrupt to the core.

* This ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' builds on canon and has Ankh-Morpork as the Expy of post-imperial Britain. Ankh-Morpork still has the hangover of recent Empire to contend with. Some places, like the Guano Islands, simply don't want to become independent; they like it as it is, thanks, with Ankh-Morpork footing all the bills. There also inconvenient hangovers of Empire in various parts of the Disc. [[UsefulNotes/{{Australia}} Fourecks]] and [[UsefulNotes/NewZealand the Foggy Islands]] are relaxed about it and agree there are useful cultural and sporting ties. [[CanadaEh Upper Aceria]] falls into the same bracket, despite its [[UsefulNotes/{{France}} Quirmian enclave]] [[FrenchJerk being awkward]]. [[EagleLand the Semi-United States of Aceria]] is a bit more problematic. It's a long time since [[UsefulNotes/{{India}} Ghat]] was an Ankh-Morporkian colony, but the Morporkians were there for long enough to leave [[UsefulNotes/{{Cricket}} Crockett]] behind. And see above for [[UsefulNotes/SouthAfrica Rimwards Howondaland]].

* ''Anime/{{Daltanious}}'' has two notable ones: The Helios Empire (where Kento, Earl and Emperor Palmillion are from) and the Zaal Empire (the {{Galactic Conquerer}}s that want to TakeOverTheWorld). [[spoiler: And then it's revealed that the Helios Empire are a bunch of [[BitchInSheepsClothing bastards]] as well]].

* The Eggman Empire in ''[[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics Sonic the Hedgehog]]'', named after [[BigBad Dr. Eggman.]]

[[SkeletonGovernment Note that just being called an Empire is not sufficient to qualify a nation for this trope]]. There's many stories, especially in the HeroicFantasy and HistoricalFiction genres, with polities called "empires" that are less overtly antagonistic. These types of empires may be better described as an expansionist monarchy, a culturally dominant HegemonicEmpire, a militaristic [[TheFederation federation]], a nationalist [[TheRepublic republic]], or a more centrally controlled [[TheAlliance alliance]].

* In ''Series/DoctorWho'', most states that have the name of Empire are antagonistic. For instance, the Dalek Empire seeks to exterminate all life besides the Daleks, while the Sontaran Empire is a militaristic race of clones whose whole society depends on waging perpetual war. However the Draconian Empire, a vast spacefaring feudal civilisation with a society stratifed along class and gender lines, can be honorable and reasonable in its dealings with others. The portrayal of the Earth Empire varies.

** While referred to as a "shogunate", ''Series/UchuSentaiKyuranger'''s Jark Matter have much more in common with the Empire, being a brutally oppressive, galaxy-spanning, planet-looting dictatorship under the rule of [[BigBad Don Armage]]. It also helps that there are a lot of similarities to a more famous [[Franchise/StarWars Galactic Empire]].

** The Daruga Empire in ''Series/GenseishinJustiriser'' are a vast interstellar empire that has conquered and destroyed numerous planets in the name of total galactic domination. The Hades Army the Justirisers spend the first half of the series fighting turns out to be just one division of the Daruga Imperial Army.
** ''Series/ChouseiKantaiSazerX'': Neo Descal is a galactic empire formed by the descendants of the Descal SpacePirates after they conquered Earth. By the time of the BadFuture, they've already taken over dozens of planets by [[OrbitalBombardment bombarding them]] until they're [[CastingAShadow cast into darkness]].

** Season 2 of ''Series/StarTrekPicard'' sees [[ForWantOfANail the timeline altered]] so that instead of the Federation, there's the Confederation of Earth, a xenophobic military state that is conquering the galaxy and enslaving all non-human races. The Confederation is similar to the Terran Empire but lacks its ChronicBackstabbingDisorder complex that became its downfall, instead going on to conquer the Cardassians, Klingons, Romulans, and ''the Borg''. Its most ruthless military leader is General Jean-Luc Picard, who has led numerous campaigns of conquest against other races aboard his flagship the CSS ''World Razer'' (think ''Enterprise''-D but armed to the teeth) and has personally slain alien leaders (including Martok, Dukat, and Sarek), whose skulls he keeps in his trophy room.

** The Fire Nation during the time of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. It's even AllThereInTheManual that they're conquering the world for the same reason real empires in the Industrial Age did: they industrialized first and now need resources which they can get from their less advanced neighbors--though their stated purpose, that many sincerely believe in, is to [[WhiteMansBurden bring the blessings of their prosperity and enlightened government to the whole world]]. Come Korra's time, the Fire Nation is indeed much more peaceful yet pacifistic because even though they're atoning/have atoned for the hundred years war, too many are still easily remembering the Fire Nation causing that war and thus they don't want to risk more bad blood.

* The Irken Empire from ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' is organized, militaristic, expansionist, and also strangely [[CloudCuckooLander frivolous]]. Their M.O. has them inserting [[TheMole a covert operative]] to scout a planet for weaknesses, send in an invasion force, looting the place for resources, enslaving the survivors as a client race if they're useful or exterminating them if not, and converting the planet for a single purpose, such as a parking structure or a food court. They're weird like that. They also determine authority solely by height, with their leaders called "The Tallest." The only reason they're so successful is that everyone else in the universe is way stupider than they are.

* ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'': Just as with the show it is rebooted off of, The Horde, officially known as the Galactic Horde in this series, is a totalitarian empire that spans galaxies. It’s founder and emperor, Horde Prime considers it a monument and extension of himself, and so he rules with an iron fist. For at least a few millennia, they have conquered many galaxies and the people they conquer are expected to worship their emperor like a god. Any who refuse to conform to Horde Prime’s standards are either disintegrated, or enslaved.
* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': The [[SiliconBasedLife Gem Homeworld]] is led by the [[GodEmperor Great Diamond Authority]], consisting of [[TheStoic Yellow Diamond]], [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds Blue Diamond]], [[HeWhoMustNotBeSeen White Diamond]] and formerly, [[PosthumousCharacter Pink Diamond]]. They conquer worlds, sucking the life and energy out of them to make more Gems, and have little to no regard for organic life. Homeworld has a HiveCasteSystem, lots of FantasticRacism, especially towards [[SlaveRace Pearls]], and do not have an issue with shattering Gems and using them for the [[EldritchAbomination fusion experiments]] and the [[EarthShatteringKaboom Cluster]] if they don't conform to their standards.

* "Franchise/Naruto" has the 5 great nations. Run by totalitarian dictatorships, the 5 great nations are military states that, among other things, frequently wage massive wars on and/or in small countries where they rake in massive civilian casualties.

* In ''Fanfic/TheInstituteSaga'', the autocratic and oppressive [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Kree, Skrull]] and [[Franchise/XMen Shi'ar]] empires are all mentioned or feature in the prequel.

** [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Krypton]] had an interstellar empire back in its heyday, one that was far-reaching enough that Kara is deeply confused that no one else she's met with knowledge of the wider galaxy has ever heard of it.

* "Anime/Naruto" has the 5 great nations. Run by totalitarian dictatorships, the 5 great nations are military states that, among other things, frequently wage massive wars on and/or in small countries where they rake in massive civilian casualties.

* "Manga/Naruto" has the 5 great nations. Run by totalitarian dictatorships, the 5 great nations are military states that, among other things, frequently wage wars on and/or in small countries where they rake in massive civilian casualties.

** ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': {{Mordor}} and its client states (Harad, Umbar, Rhûn, and Khand) ruled by Sauron, a sadistic tyrant who intends to conquer the world and rule it as a god-king, destroying whoever opposes him.
** ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'': Morgoth's realm, centered around Angband. It runs on the backs of slaves, the army is Always Chaotic Evil, the main entertainment is Cold-Blooded Torture, and the whole goal is to conquer and kill everybody on Earth.

%%* ''Franchise/TolkiensLegendarium'':%%Explain how these are actually examples.
%%** ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': {{Mordor}} and its client states (Harad, Umbar, Rhûn, and Khand) ruled by Sauron. Saruman attempted to set up one at Isengard, but failed.
%%** ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'':
%%*** Morgoth's empire.
%%*** Númenor, especially at the end of the Second Age. It began as TheGoodKingdom, but transmuted into the Empire -- and was mighty enough to even conquer Mordor and humiliate Sauron.

* ''Literature/{{Sandokan}}'': It is implied that, after Sandokan's epic Roaring Rampage of Revenge in ''The King of the Sea'', he and the British imperial government have an informal agreement that allows Sandokan and Yanez to do as they wish (even buying weapons from them) as long as they refrain from damaging British interests (Yanez even carved out a nice empire for himself right in the real-life Raj, with the Brits not interfering because he had deposed a corrupted prince and opened his country to trade).
** The novels ''The Mystery of the Black Jungle'' and ''The Two Tigers'' are set in India during the period of East India Company rule, the first in Bengal under the rule of the East India Company and the latter around India as the Rebellion of 1857 raged. In these novels Salgari takes an ambivalent stance towards Company rule: on one hand the Company is shown opening the country to trade and industrialization, hunting down dangerous animals to improve the living conditions of the populace, and campaign against barbaric customs as ''Sati'' (widow burning) and the Thuggee cult (we are even shown East India Company troops affiliated with the Thuggee Department storming the Thuggee headquarters); on the other hand the flaws of the Company, such as it's corruption, arrogance and heavy handed response to political complaints are shown, culminating in the bloody suppression of the 1857 rebellion.